Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial live updates: Defense delivers closing arguments in sex trafficking case

Yahoo

3 days ago

The defense is delivering its closing argument in the sex trafficking trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs on Friday, a day after federal prosecutors portrayed him as the 'leader of a criminal enterprise' who abused, threatened and coerced women to participate in drug-fueled marathon sexual encounters called 'freak offs,' and used his business empire, along with guns, kidnapping and arson, to conceal his crimes.
'Up until today, the defendant was able to get away with these crimes because of his money, his power, his influence. That stops now,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik told jurors at the end of a nearly five-hour presentation. 'It's time to hold him accountable. It's time for justice. And it's time to find him guilty.'
The 55-year-old hip-hop mogul is facing five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
Combs has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
Follow the live blog below for the latest updates culled from various reporters and news organizations in the courtroom, including the New York Times, CNN, NBC News, and the Washington Post.
During the break when jurors were out of the room, lead prosecutor Maurene Comey told Judge Arun Subramanian that the prosecution thought the defense's arguments were too sarcastic about the government's charges against Combs.
"Respectfully, I think I'm allowed to be sarcastic," defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said.
In response to the prosecution's complaint, Judge Subramanian told Agnifilo not to question or speculate why the government was pursuing its charges against Combs, calling the situation "grossly improper."
When jurors returned to the courtroom, the judge reminded the group, "I will be instructing you on the law in this case."
Judge Arun Subramanian is back on the bench after the court took a break.
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo spoke for around 94 minutes before the break. The defense said its closing argument should be around three hours long.
Judge Arun Subramanian has called for a 15-minute midmorning break. The defense will continue with its closing argument when court resumes.
After mentioning Capricorn Clark's testimony claims that she was kidnapped by Combs and taken to rapper Kid Cudi's house at gunpoint in December 2011, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo addressed the prosecution's allegations that Combs was behind Kid Cudi's Porsche catching on fire in early 2012.
Kid Cudi testified that his Porsche was set on fire with a Molotov cocktail after Combs learned that he and Cassie Ventura were dating. Prosecutor Christy Slavik reminded the jury of Kid Cudi's testimony about the Porsche yesterday and said, "Of course, the defendant was behind this."
Agnifilo argued that the small DNA profile that was found on the Molotov cocktail bottle was "consistent with a female."
'There is no evidence that he had anything to do with the Porsche,' he said.
Marc Agnifilo, Combs's lead defense lawyer, started to comb through some of the prosecution's key witnesses and their testimonies, reminding the jury members that they are allowed to question or disregard testimonies if they don't trust them.
Agnifilo brought up Capricorn Clark, whom the prosecution argued had been a victim of being kidnapped by Combs twice while working as his personal assistant.
The first alleged experience was in 2004, after Clark had started working for Combs. Clark testified she had to undergo five days of lie detector tests to prove she hadn't stolen jewelry and was repeatedly told by the test administrator that if she was caught lying, "they're going to throw you in the East River."
But Agnifilo emphasized that Clark testified she went home after the lie detector tests every day.
"It's not a kidnapping," he said, before pointing out that the jurors had spent hours watching the trial for the last seven weeks. "Anyone feel kidnapped?"
The second alleged incident was in 2011. Clark testified that Combs came to her home with a gun and brought her to Kid Cudi's house, but Agnifilo emphasized that Kid Cudi testified Clark did not mention any guns when she called him and Cassie Ventura that day.
'Had Capricorn said 'gun,' Cudi would've remembered 'gun.' You're not gonna forget 'gun,'' Agnifilo argued. He also reiterated his earlier point that Clark, like most of Combs's employees, loved working for him and would willingly do anything for him. 'If he asked her to take a trip to the moon, she'd go, and he knows that. He doesn't need a gun."
Moments after conceding his client was "guilty" of assaulting Cassie Ventura, Combs's lawyer Marc Agnifilo called Ventura a "gangster" for using a burner phone to contact Kid Cudi while she was seeing both men.
'Cassie's keeping it gangster!' Agnifilo said. "She played them both.'
During her relationship with Kid Cudi, Ventura repeatedly lied to Combs, Agnifilo said, arguing that it showed she was "not afraid of him."
Marc Agnifilo, Combs's defense attorney, used part of his closing argument to mock the raids on Combs's homes.
In its indictment, the prosecut said that federal agents recovered guns, drugs and 'more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant.'
'Boxes of Astroglide, taken off the streets, whoo! I feel better already,' Agnifilo said.
'Thank goodness for the special response team," he added. "They found the Astroglide, they found the baby oil, they found like five valium pills. Way to go, fellas.'
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo argued to the jury that Cassie Ventura is not part of a "one-sided, oppressive" relationship with Combs, as the prosecution argued, but ultimately the financial "winner" of the breakup.
"She is sitting somewhere in the world with $30 million," Agnifilo said. Ventura won a $20 million civil settlement from Combs after filing a lawsuit against him in November 2023, and is expecting a $10 million settlement from the owner of the InterContinental hotel where she was assaulted by Combs in 2016.
Agnifilo called Combs and Ventura's relationship 'a great modern love story,' and said that this case isn't about crime.
"We're here because of money," he said.
In his closing argument, Marc Agnifilo acknowledged that Combs is "guilty" of domestic violence, but that's not what he's been charged with.
Multiple women, including Combs's ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, testified that he beat them repeatedly. And a key piece of evidence for prosecutors was a surveillance video that showed Combs assaulting Ventura in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel.
"We own the domestic violence — I hope you guys know that," Agnifilo said. 'It happened. That's not charged.
'He did not do the things he's charged with,' Agnifilo said. 'He didn't commit racketeering — he just didn't.' The lawyer added: 'He did what he did. But he's going to fight to the death to defend himself from what he didn't do.'
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo argued that Combs's employees were loyal to him because 'Sean Combs has become something that is very, very hard to be. Very hard to be. He is a self-made, successful, Black entrepreneur.'
Even though multiple former employees have testified in the trial, Agnifilo argued Combs had been integrating DEI — diversity, equity and inclusion — into his businesses since he was 24 years old.
'Did they always like him? No way. Let's not even go there,' Agnifilo said about the former employees. 'But they loved him. They didn't want to leave him.'
Marc Agnifilo, Combs's lead attorney, began his closing argument by telling jurors that the case presented by federal prosecutors was "false" and "exaggerated."
Agnifilo said the evidence does not show criminal behavior but rather 'a lifestyle — you want to call it swingers.'
'Whatever you want to call it, that's what it is," Agnifilo said. "That's what the evidence shows."
Judge Arun Subramanian is on the bench, members of the jury have been seated, and Combs's lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, is delivering the closing argument for the defense.
Combs's sister, Keisha Combs, is sitting with their mom, Janice Combs, in the family section of the courtroom. Combs's three teenage daughters, Chance and twins D'Lila and Jessie, are also in the spectators' gallery.
The defense will deliver its closing argument to the jury at 9 a.m. ET.
Combs's lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said he expects his presentation to take about three hours.
The prosecution — which took nearly five hours to deliver its closing argument — will have a chance to give a rebuttal.
Judge Arun Subramanian will then give the jury its instructions.
Subramanian said the jury will determine its own schedule for deliberations, which could begin as soon as Friday afternoon.
The prosecution delivered a lengthy closing argument.
For nearly five hours, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik told jurors how Combs operated as the "leader of a criminal enterprise," using "power, violence and fear" to force women to participate in drug-fueled marathon sexual encounters called 'freak offs.'
Slavik said Combs exhibited a "pattern" of coercion, using money, drugs and threats to control his victims, including former girlfriends Cassie Ventura and a woman identified by the pseudonym "Jane."
The prosecutor recounted their harrowing testimony detailing years of physical abuse and sexual assault.
Slavik outlined the five counts Combs faces, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
'Up until today, the defendant was able to get away with these crimes because of his money, his power, his influence. That stops now,' Slavik said. 'It's time to hold him accountable. It's time for justice. And it's time to find him guilty."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik wrapped up the prosecution's closing argument around 4:30 p.m. ET after nearly five hours. Court was adjourned for the day.
Slavik thanked jurors for paying attention over the last seven weeks.
'You heard how the defendant ran his criminal enterprise with total control and with the loyal assistance of his inner circle," Slavik said. 'Up until today, the defendant was able to get away with these crimes because of his money, his power, his influence. That stops now.
"It is time to hold him accountable; it is time for justice," she continued. "And it's time to find him guilty."
In addition to Ventura and "Jane," U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik told jurors that "Mia," Combs's former assistant who testified under a pseudonym, was a victim of forced labor.
Slavik recounted Mia's testimony about the abuse she says she endured from Combs. Mia told the court that Combs physically and sexually assaulted her multiple times during her employment.
'He sexually assaulted Mia when Cassie and his other girlfriends were not around,' Slavik said.
The prosecutor argued that Combs had 'all the power and control,' often threatening Mia's job. Mia also testified that she witnessed Combs become violent with Ventura.
'Mia saw and experienced extreme violence at her boss's hands,' Slavik said. 'It's no wonder she was always worried about her physical safety if she was to tell him no.'
Prosecutor Christy Slavik told the jury that Combs forced Cassie Ventura and "Jane" into days-long sexual activities without any sleep.
Both women testified that Combs forced them to have sex with multiple men, multiple times over the course of several days. They said they were given drugs like Ecstasy and MDMA to keep them awake.
"They got sores, they got sick, they got infections," Slavik said, noting that both women testified they were still told they had to have sex even when they hadn't recovered from infections. "These nights were labor and services. ... This was work."
Judge Arun Subramanian and the jury have returned to the courtroom.
The court has taken a 15-minute break. Prosecutors indicated that their closing arguments would take another hour when court resumes.
During the break when jurors were out of the room, lead prosecutor Maurene Comey told Judge Arun Subramanian that the prosecution thought the defense's arguments were too sarcastic about the government's charges against Combs.
"Respectfully, I think I'm allowed to be sarcastic," defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said.
In response to the prosecution's complaint, Judge Subramanian told Agnifilo not to question or speculate why the government was pursuing its charges against Combs, calling the situation "grossly improper."
When jurors returned to the courtroom, the judge reminded the group, "I will be instructing you on the law in this case."
Judge Arun Subramanian is back on the bench after the court took a break.
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo spoke for around 94 minutes before the break. The defense said its closing argument should be around three hours long.
Judge Arun Subramanian has called for a 15-minute midmorning break. The defense will continue with its closing argument when court resumes.
After mentioning Capricorn Clark's testimony claims that she was kidnapped by Combs and taken to rapper Kid Cudi's house at gunpoint in December 2011, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo addressed the prosecution's allegations that Combs was behind Kid Cudi's Porsche catching on fire in early 2012.
Kid Cudi testified that his Porsche was set on fire with a Molotov cocktail after Combs learned that he and Cassie Ventura were dating. Prosecutor Christy Slavik reminded the jury of Kid Cudi's testimony about the Porsche yesterday and said, "Of course, the defendant was behind this."
Agnifilo argued that the small DNA profile that was found on the Molotov cocktail bottle was "consistent with a female."
'There is no evidence that he had anything to do with the Porsche,' he said.
Marc Agnifilo, Combs's lead defense lawyer, started to comb through some of the prosecution's key witnesses and their testimonies, reminding the jury members that they are allowed to question or disregard testimonies if they don't trust them.
Agnifilo brought up Capricorn Clark, whom the prosecution argued had been a victim of being kidnapped by Combs twice while working as his personal assistant.
The first alleged experience was in 2004, after Clark had started working for Combs. Clark testified she had to undergo five days of lie detector tests to prove she hadn't stolen jewelry and was repeatedly told by the test administrator that if she was caught lying, "they're going to throw you in the East River."
But Agnifilo emphasized that Clark testified she went home after the lie detector tests every day.
"It's not a kidnapping," he said, before pointing out that the jurors had spent hours watching the trial for the last seven weeks. "Anyone feel kidnapped?"
The second alleged incident was in 2011. Clark testified that Combs came to her home with a gun and brought her to Kid Cudi's house, but Agnifilo emphasized that Kid Cudi testified Clark did not mention any guns when she called him and Cassie Ventura that day.
'Had Capricorn said 'gun,' Cudi would've remembered 'gun.' You're not gonna forget 'gun,'' Agnifilo argued. He also reiterated his earlier point that Clark, like most of Combs's employees, loved working for him and would willingly do anything for him. 'If he asked her to take a trip to the moon, she'd go, and he knows that. He doesn't need a gun."
Moments after conceding his client was "guilty" of assaulting Cassie Ventura, Combs's lawyer Marc Agnifilo called Ventura a "gangster" for using a burner phone to contact Kid Cudi while she was seeing both men.
'Cassie's keeping it gangster!' Agnifilo said. "She played them both.'
During her relationship with Kid Cudi, Ventura repeatedly lied to Combs, Agnifilo said, arguing that it showed she was "not afraid of him."
Marc Agnifilo, Combs's defense attorney, used part of his closing argument to mock the raids on Combs's homes.
In its indictment, the prosecut said that federal agents recovered guns, drugs and 'more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant.'
'Boxes of Astroglide, taken off the streets, whoo! I feel better already,' Agnifilo said.
'Thank goodness for the special response team," he added. "They found the Astroglide, they found the baby oil, they found like five valium pills. Way to go, fellas.'
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo argued to the jury that Cassie Ventura is not part of a "one-sided, oppressive" relationship with Combs, as the prosecution argued, but ultimately the financial "winner" of the breakup.
"She is sitting somewhere in the world with $30 million," Agnifilo said. Ventura won a $20 million civil settlement from Combs after filing a lawsuit against him in November 2023, and is expecting a $10 million settlement from the owner of the InterContinental hotel where she was assaulted by Combs in 2016.
Agnifilo called Combs and Ventura's relationship 'a great modern love story,' and said that this case isn't about crime.
"We're here because of money," he said.
In his closing argument, Marc Agnifilo acknowledged that Combs is "guilty" of domestic violence, but that's not what he's been charged with.
Multiple women, including Combs's ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, testified that he beat them repeatedly. And a key piece of evidence for prosecutors was a surveillance video that showed Combs assaulting Ventura in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel.
"We own the domestic violence — I hope you guys know that," Agnifilo said. 'It happened. That's not charged.
'He did not do the things he's charged with,' Agnifilo said. 'He didn't commit racketeering — he just didn't.' The lawyer added: 'He did what he did. But he's going to fight to the death to defend himself from what he didn't do.'
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo argued that Combs's employees were loyal to him because 'Sean Combs has become something that is very, very hard to be. Very hard to be. He is a self-made, successful, Black entrepreneur.'
Even though multiple former employees have testified in the trial, Agnifilo argued Combs had been integrating DEI — diversity, equity and inclusion — into his businesses since he was 24 years old.
'Did they always like him? No way. Let's not even go there,' Agnifilo said about the former employees. 'But they loved him. They didn't want to leave him.'
Marc Agnifilo, Combs's lead attorney, began his closing argument by telling jurors that the case presented by federal prosecutors was "false" and "exaggerated."
Agnifilo said the evidence does not show criminal behavior but rather 'a lifestyle — you want to call it swingers.'
'Whatever you want to call it, that's what it is," Agnifilo said. "That's what the evidence shows."
Judge Arun Subramanian is on the bench, members of the jury have been seated, and Combs's lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, is delivering the closing argument for the defense.
Combs's sister, Keisha Combs, is sitting with their mom, Janice Combs, in the family section of the courtroom. Combs's three teenage daughters, Chance and twins D'Lila and Jessie, are also in the spectators' gallery.
The defense will deliver its closing argument to the jury at 9 a.m. ET.
Combs's lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said he expects his presentation to take about three hours.
The prosecution — which took nearly five hours to deliver its closing argument — will have a chance to give a rebuttal.
Judge Arun Subramanian will then give the jury its instructions.
Subramanian said the jury will determine its own schedule for deliberations, which could begin as soon as Friday afternoon.
The prosecution delivered a lengthy closing argument.
For nearly five hours, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik told jurors how Combs operated as the "leader of a criminal enterprise," using "power, violence and fear" to force women to participate in drug-fueled marathon sexual encounters called 'freak offs.'
Slavik said Combs exhibited a "pattern" of coercion, using money, drugs and threats to control his victims, including former girlfriends Cassie Ventura and a woman identified by the pseudonym "Jane."
The prosecutor recounted their harrowing testimony detailing years of physical abuse and sexual assault.
Slavik outlined the five counts Combs faces, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
'Up until today, the defendant was able to get away with these crimes because of his money, his power, his influence. That stops now,' Slavik said. 'It's time to hold him accountable. It's time for justice. And it's time to find him guilty."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik wrapped up the prosecution's closing argument around 4:30 p.m. ET after nearly five hours. Court was adjourned for the day.
Slavik thanked jurors for paying attention over the last seven weeks.
'You heard how the defendant ran his criminal enterprise with total control and with the loyal assistance of his inner circle," Slavik said. 'Up until today, the defendant was able to get away with these crimes because of his money, his power, his influence. That stops now.
"It is time to hold him accountable; it is time for justice," she continued. "And it's time to find him guilty."
In addition to Ventura and "Jane," U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik told jurors that "Mia," Combs's former assistant who testified under a pseudonym, was a victim of forced labor.
Slavik recounted Mia's testimony about the abuse she says she endured from Combs. Mia told the court that Combs physically and sexually assaulted her multiple times during her employment.
'He sexually assaulted Mia when Cassie and his other girlfriends were not around,' Slavik said.
The prosecutor argued that Combs had 'all the power and control,' often threatening Mia's job. Mia also testified that she witnessed Combs become violent with Ventura.
'Mia saw and experienced extreme violence at her boss's hands,' Slavik said. 'It's no wonder she was always worried about her physical safety if she was to tell him no.'
Prosecutor Christy Slavik told the jury that Combs forced Cassie Ventura and "Jane" into days-long sexual activities without any sleep.
Both women testified that Combs forced them to have sex with multiple men, multiple times over the course of several days. They said they were given drugs like Ecstasy and MDMA to keep them awake.
"They got sores, they got sick, they got infections," Slavik said, noting that both women testified they were still told they had to have sex even when they hadn't recovered from infections. "These nights were labor and services. ... This was work."
Judge Arun Subramanian and the jury have returned to the courtroom.
The court has taken a 15-minute break. Prosecutors indicated that their closing arguments would take another hour when court resumes.